Pulsing Afro-Latin roots and UK jazz combine on Grown, the latest album by London-based quintet Waaju, released via Olindo Records. Fusing dexterous hand-percussion, hypnotic guitar riffs and soaring melodies, Waaju connect a wide range of traditional musics percolating at different corners of the global soundscape yet with a distinctly of-the-moment and British jazz flavour…
As if to remind anyone who's forgotten his roots, Chick Corea re-connects here with his past, when he was pianist for Willie Bobo and Cal Tjader in the 1960s, and a catalyst for Brazilian fusion in the 1970s. Playing a Fender Rhodes piano throughout this 10-song live session, Corea reminds one more of Latin jazz master Clare Fischer than the adventurous soloist who always keeps his music on the edge. With Arturo Sandoval on Mongo Santamaria's "Beseme Mama," Corea recalls his days with Return to Forever. The disc opens with all the pots boiling on "Soul Sauce" and "A Night in Tunisia," two standards by Dizzy Gillespie, the godfather of Latin jazz. Corea, Sandoval, Poncho Sanchez, and former Spyro Gyra vibes player David Samuels are all featured with fiery solos, with Sandoval trading high-flying riffs with fellow trumpeter Claudio Roditi on the latter tune.
Personnel includes: Arturo Sandoval (trumpet, flugelhorn, piano, percussion); Celia Cruz, Oscar D'Leon, Luis Enrique, Joe Williams (vocals); Kenny Anderson, Ed Calle (saxophone, flute); Dana Teboe (trombone); Otmaro Ruiz (piano); Rene Toledo … Full Description(guitar); David Enos (bass); Aaron Serfaty (drums); Manuel "Egui" Castrillo, Luis Henrique, Edwin Bonilla (percussion); Vicente Rojas, Laura Pifferver, Cheito Quinones (background vocals).Down Beat (6/95, p.42) - 5 Stars - Good - "…astonishing musicianship….the precision and gleam in the brass section work is something any jazz ensemble could learn from…"
JazzTimes (10/95, p.89) - "…Well balanced and beautifully orchestrated, this is Sandoval at his best." ]